Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
She took a deep breath. “Thanks.”
“And don’t worry. Everyone who saw that video will not think any less of you. To be honest, I think a lot of people are going to be pissed at Big Dick.”
“Huh?”
“Larissa, honey, you’re the town sweetheart, and he’s like the town bad boy. Everyone knows if you were with him, you had feelings. As for him, we all know it was a bet. Trust me, no one is going to feel bad for him. I know I wanted to wring his fucking neck when I heard.” Annie took a deep breath.
Annie had moved on, was married with a couple of kids. Larissa nodded at the other woman.
“Because you don’t even realize it, but it has already changed you,” Annie said.
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You’re not smiling. You’re not happy. You were the person around town, who even if you were having a bad day, I’d see you, your easy smile, and I knew everything would be okay. I know that is crazy, right? But I know a lot of people adore you, Larissa.” Annie went to her and pulled her in for a hug. “We’re all here for you.”
Larissa tensed up as the other woman hugged her. Then, Annie’s cell phone started to ring, and she made her excuses to go.
She didn’t know what to think of her interaction with Annie. She had seen her around town, but then she saw a lot of people around town. Not once had she thought about all the women George had been with prior to her. Whenever she had been around him, she had forgotten herself. She had forgotten everything.
Gripping her cart, she got through the rest of the grocery store, but she did notice a few women who looked her way and whispered behind their hands. The same happened when she was at the register.
“She’s the one that is in that video!”
“Did she really think Big Dick was going to fall for her?”
“It’s such a shame.”
They were not whispering low enough.
Larissa felt her hands start to shake. She hated confrontation, and she thanked the cashier, who happened to be someone new. Grabbing the handle of her cart, she made her way out to the car, only to stop when she caught sight of Raven leaning against it.
“Hey,” Raven said.
The last thing she was, was rude. “Hello.”
“I’ve been calling for you, for days,” Raven said.
“I told Dad I didn’t want to speak to anyone.”
“Or leave the house.”
Larissa frowned. “You were watching the house?”
“I had to, I needed to know you were safe,” Raven said.
“Safe?”
“Look, you’re going through a lot, and I get that. I don’t want you to be a stranger. Ava wanted to reach out and tell you that your job is still secure.”
“I’m not going to work for Ava,” Larissa said.
“You’re not even going to give two-weeks’ notice?” Raven asked.
“No, I’m not. That’s unprofessional, I know, but I can’t do it.” If she went back to work for Ava, she would never leave, and she didn’t want to do that. She needed to have a completely clean break from Ava and the club.
“You know, he’s a dick, right? A stupid piece of shit,” Raven said.
Larissa paused in reaching for the trunk of the car. “No, he’s not.” She put the bags into the back of the car. “I’m the one who is the idiot. He never promised me anything. I never even second-guessed why he was suddenly into me. I had no idea it could have been a bet between friends. That is on me, not him.”
“He knew better.”
“Why? Because I’m any different from the other women he was with?”
“They knew what they were getting themselves into.”
“And as a full-grown woman, so did I.” That wasn’t the truth, because never in a million years had she anticipated this. This was awful, and made her feel like a total fool.
She had told him she loved him, and that is what hurt the most. She had fallen in love with him, while he didn’t love her. She should have known this.
“You’re not used to the way men are.”
“And now I am,” Larissa said. “Life is about lessons, I’ve just learned mine.” She closed the trunk of the car. “I’ve got to go, Raven.”
“You were there for me,” Raven said. “You were there when I didn’t think anyone was, and especially when I didn’t deserve anyone.”
Larissa looked to her friend.
“Let me be there for you.”
“You’re part of the club, Raven. I don’t know a lot, but I know enough to know that ... it’s not my place.”
She offered Raven a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She truly didn’t feel like smiling at all.
****
Larissa wouldn’t take his calls.
Jonah wouldn’t allow him close to the house.
The club was not currently talking to him. Well, most of the club wasn’t talking to him.